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Though Newcastle Town stand between Gresley Rovers and another step down Wembley Way, South Derbyshire’s finest will have an extra reason for ousting them from the FA Vase tomorrow.
Victory in the fifth round tie could see Gresley in the hat alongside Guiseley and Knowsley, names writ large in Vase lore from last year’s campaign.But one Gresley player in particular will be hoping to see off the North Staffordshire hopefuls – Potteries based goalkeeper Bob Aston.
As manager Frank Northwood explained: “ My keeper comes from two or three miles from Newcastle and used to play for them at one time.
“His view of the match is if we don’t beat them he’d be very embarrassed because he lives there. Having said that, I think we are in for a tough match all round.”
Besides any intelligence gleaned by Aston, Northwood has had spies out to view the North West Counties Division Two side, who will be looking on last year’s finalists Gresley as a big fish to land.
“They will view it as a big match but we feel we have got the experience, having been to the final last season,” said Northwood. “We’ll look at the game a bit closer tomorrow and to be honest, we won’t even talk about it until then. We’ll go there to do what Gresley Rovers are good at and that’s play football.”
With Town having dispatched Cumbrian side Penrith from the Vase to set up their home showdown, Rovers’ shorter trip has brought the expected response from fans eager for another tilt at the Twin Towers.
“There will be 300 Gresley supporters there at least with four coaches going at the moment – we have got to take our hat off to them for making the journey and I hope we can give them their just reward,” said Northwood.
“We’ll be looking to be in the hat on Monday but so will Newcastle, so we’ve got to concentrate on them for now.”
